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Alexander, et al. A Pattern Language, 1977

this is part of the article collection Village Buildings.

Introduction

"A pattern language is a method of describing good design practices or patterns of useful organization within a field of expertise. The term was coined by architect Christopher Alexander and popularized by his 1977 book A Pattern Language." (-Wikipedia). Patterns "are in essence a way of capturing useful knowledge about the nature of a design problem, and expressing it in a way that can be easily shared and adapted to new contexts." (Mehaffy 2019). Alexander et al's 'patterns' concept has been widely applied in software development and other fields, and inspired the invention of the wiki, by Portland programmer Ward Cunningham for the Portland Patterns Repository.

Here we are attempting to derive a pattern language to map all possible ways to make housing affordable. Affordability is of course not the only problem or goal people have in housing or housing policy; people also seek housing quality, good design, housing that helps create community or builds wealth, or which helps employment and economic growth in an area, or which contributes to environmental sustainability, etc. Even closer to 'affordability,' one might choose different lenses such as anti-displacement, housing security, housing for all, adequate housing, attainable housing. Nevertheless, affordability (or the somewhat ambigious "affordable housing") is a pervasive concern and framing, and what we choose to focus on here.

Since affordability is defined by ratio of housing costs (perhaps including transportation) to income or wealth, of course a major way to help affordability is to increase the income/wealth of the less well-off. However, since this extends far into the realm of general economic/social policy, here we consider that outside of scope; except for the pattern of housing benefits (e.g. vouchers), which could and some argue should be done with general income benefits such as Earned Income Tax Credit. [this would tend to support people making their own determination of housing type/price that serves their needs, which is aligned with many of other patterns].

This affordability pattern language could be integrated with or extended to other pattern languages that describe other issues in housing or cities. For exampple, Wiki inventor Ward Cunningham, and fellow Portlander, urbanist, & architectural theorist Michael Mehaffy have been working with others on a new pattern language and online pattern repository, A Pattern Language for Growing Regions (APLGR; draft version online, printed book forthcoming 2019). The affordability pattern language here could potentially be integrated with APLGR, and others pattern languages such as a proposed "Portland Civic Patterns Repository" [citation needed] to describe approaches for civic governance and engagement.

Mehaffy talks about wikis and pattern languages as tools for "consensus development." [citation needed]. In that vein, one of the purposes of this affordability pattern language is to suggest that quite varied patterns -- from public housing to 'abundant' market housing -- may all be sources of or factors in affordability, and considered practically rather than ideologically, they might often be combined in various ways, in a project or an environment.

Housing Affordability Patterns

Land-use reform

(including building regulations reform)

1970s-present

Mobility improvement

Historically, many key improvements in affordability have arisen due to new transportation methods opening up new areas for residential development. For example: horse-drawn and then electric streetcars, subways / urban and commuter rail transit, and mass automobile ownership and freeways. Mobility improvement may be increased not only by the advent of major new transport technologies, but by more incremental improvements such as Bus Rapid Transit, or transit-oriented right-of-way design, or policies to subsidize transit.

Financial reform & innovation

Tax preferences/incentives for affordable & non-profit housing.

Bonding methods.

Social Impact Bonds.

Cooperative financing/development. (cf German regulations facilitating).

Private for-profit or non-profit financing methods, e.g. currently there is a wave of ventures offering forms of shared equity or financial partnership to assist homebuyers.

Non-profit & Public housing; use of public land

[can be supported by bond and General funding - local/state. i.e., just tax ourselves more. (the "public option")].

Vouchers & direct subsidy: local, state, and/or Federal

a 'choice' strategy.

[can be supported by bond and General funding - local/state. i.e., just tax ourselves more. (the "public option")]

See Income-based housing benefit, and subsection "proposed Oregon rental assistance program (2019)."

Mixed-income housing

public or private developed, e.g. Portland's Vanport, Headwaters Apartments/Village, Aloha Park Apartments (and other 1960s/70s Section 238 developments).

Rent regulation

Oregon passes nation's 1st statewide rent regulation in 2019.

Inclusionary housing

mandated, incented, or purchased. Example of Pearl District.

Lot division & 'condoization'

Portland lot-division / narrow lots program.

Eli Spevak / Orange Splot projects; Pocket Neighborhoods, Villages: Ross Chapin, Cully Grove, SquareOne.

Sharing / Congregate housing

SRO, co-housing, co-living.

Cooperative housing

e.g. Emerald Village, Eugene.

SquareOne Villages CLT-LEC model (Community Land Trust, Limited Equity Cooperative).

Accessory Dwellings

Self-, startup-, or public-financed. "Backdoor revolution."

Community Land Trusts, deed restrictions, limited/shared equity

Cully Land Trust, Emerald Village

Privately-developed affordable housing

built w/out subsidy. Guerrilla Development, Rob Justus / Home First.

Interim, mobile, or redeployable housing

POD, PAD Initiatives, Opportunity Village, OR Tiny House Code.

Alternative design & technologies

modular, manufactured, pre-fab, etc.

Informal, self-build, & incremental housing

Abundant, or "Naturally occurring affordable" housing

Housing for all.

Strategic Economics "Housing Tools & Strategies" Report 2019

Strategic Economics. "Eugene Housing Tools & Strategies Evaluation." [Prepared for City of Eugene, OR]. January 2019. https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44616/Strategic-Economics-Final-Report-2019/.

--Zoning Strategies for Market Rate Housing Production
Streamlined Permitting Process
Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance
Graduated Density Zoning
Tweak traditional zoning code to encourage Missing Middle development
Form-based codes
Mixed Use Zoning
Reduced or Flexible Minimum Parking Requirements

--Tax/Fee Exemptions and Other Incentives
Reduce impact fees/ systems development charges
Delay impact fees/systems development charges
Property tax exemptions

--Affordable Housing Production Strategies
Density Bonus Ordinances
Affordable Housing Overlay Zone
Inclusionary Zoning
Workforce Housing Initiatives

--Local Affordable Housing Funding Strategies
Reduced Fees or Waivers
General Fund Allocation
In-Lieu Fees - Inclusionary Zoning
Residential Impact Fee for Affordable Housing
Commercial Development Impact Fee / Commercial Linkage Fee
Residential Construction Excise Tax
Commercial/ Industrial Construction Excise Tax
Affordable Housing Bond

--Preservation of Existing Affordable Housing Units
Condominium Conversion Controls and Tenant Protections
Mobilehome Park Conversion Controls and Tenant Protections
Single-Room Occupancy Conversion Controls / Preservation
Acquisition/ Preservation of DeedRestricted Units
Acquisition/ Preservation of "Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing"
Community Land Trust (CLT)
Short-term Rental Restrictions

--Tenant Protections and Support
Rent Stabilization
Mobile Home Park Rent Control
Just Cause Eviction and Harassment Protections
Proactive Code Enforcement
Limit Discrimination Based on Source of Income

--Homeowner Support
Homeowner Assistance Programs
Housing Rehabilitation Funds

--Other
Home sharing programs
Vacant Unit Tax

References

Alexander, Christopher, and Murray Silverstein, Shlomo Angel, Sara Ishikawa, Denny Abrams (1977). A Pattern Language.
Mehaffy, Michael W. (2019). A Pattern Language for Growing Regions [And Introducing An Online Repository of New Patterns]. Sustasis Press, 2019. [draft copy]. http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html.
Strategic Economics. "Eugene Housing Tools & Strategies Evaluation." [Prepared for City of Eugene, OR]. January 2019. https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44616/Strategic-Economics-Final-Report-2019/.
Wikipedia. "Pattern language." accessed 17 November, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_language.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Alexander--A-Pattern-Language-book-cover.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Alexander, et al. A Pattern Language, 1977]] this article is part of the collection / book in progress,&nbsp;[[Village_Buildings|Village Buildings]].&nbsp; &nbsp;<br/> <- Previous article&nbsp; &nbsp; [[Village_Buildings|Table of Contents]]&nbsp; &nbsp; Next article ->&nbsp;<br/> &nbsp;
+[[File:Alexander--A-Pattern-Language-book-cover.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Alexander, et al. A Pattern Language, 1977]]
+this is part of the article collection [[Village_Buildings|Village Buildings]].
 == Introduction ==
-"A&nbsp;'''pattern language'''&nbsp;is a method of describing good design practices or patterns of useful organization within a field of expertise. The term was coined by architect&nbsp;[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Alexander Christopher Alexander]&nbsp;and popularized by his 1977 book&nbsp;''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Pattern_Language A Pattern Language]''."&nbsp; Patterns "are in essence a way of capturing useful knowledge about the nature of a design problem, and expressing it in a way that can be easily shared and adapted to new contexts." (Mehaffy 2019). Alexander et al's 'patterns' concept has been widely applied in&nbsp;software development and other fields, and inspired the&nbsp;invention of the wiki, by Portland programmer Ward Cunningham for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Pattern_Repository Portland Patterns Repository].&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
+"A&nbsp;'''pattern language'''&nbsp;is a method of describing good design practices or patterns of useful organization within a field of expertise. The term was coined by architect&nbsp;[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Alexander Christopher Alexander]&nbsp;and popularized by his 1977 book&nbsp;''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Pattern_Language A Pattern Language]''." (-Wikipedia).&nbsp;Patterns "are in essence a way of capturing useful knowledge about the nature of a design problem, and expressing it in a way that can be easily shared and adapted to new contexts." (Mehaffy 2019). Alexander et al's 'patterns' concept has been widely applied in&nbsp;software development and other fields, and inspired the&nbsp;invention of the wiki, by Portland programmer Ward Cunningham for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Pattern_Repository Portland Patterns Repository].&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
-[[File:APLFGR-Cover.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A Pattern Language For Growing Regions]]
+[[File:APLFGR-Cover.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A Pattern Language For Growing Regions]]
-With this article we&nbsp;are&nbsp;attempting to derive a pattern language to describe all ways to achieve '''housing affordability'''. Of course, affordability is not the ''only'' problem or goal people have in housing or housing policy, but it is an important one, and here we are choosing it as our lens.&nbsp;
+Here we&nbsp;are&nbsp;attempting to derive a pattern language to map ''all possible ways to make&nbsp;housing affordable''. Affordability is of course not the ''only'' problem or goal people have in housing or housing policy;&nbsp; people also seek housing quality, good design, housing that helps create community or builds wealth, or which helps employment and economic growth in an area, or which contributes to&nbsp;environmental sustainability, etc.&nbsp;Even closer to&nbsp;'affordability,' one might choose different lenses such as anti-displacement, housing security, housing for all, adequate housing, attainable housing. Nevertheless, affordability (or the somewhat ambigious "affordable housing") is a pervasive concern and framing, and what we choose to focus on here.&nbsp;
+Since affordability is defined by ratio of housing costs (perhaps including transportation) to income or wealth, of course a major way to help affordability is to increase the income/wealth of the less well-off. However, since this extends far into the realm of general economic/social policy, here we consider that outside of scope; except for the pattern of housing benefits (e.g. vouchers), which could and some argue should be done with general income benefits such as Earned Income Tax Credit. [this would tend to support people making their own determination of housing type/price that serves their needs, which is aligned with many of other patterns].
-Ward Cunningham and fellow Portlander, urbanist, architectural theorist Michael Mehaffy have been working with others on a new pattern language and online pattern repository,&nbsp;''A Pattern Language for Growing Regions&nbsp;''(''APLGR;&nbsp;''[http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html draft version online], printed book forthcoming 2019). This affordability pattern language could potentially be integrated&nbsp;with&nbsp;''APLGR,&nbsp;''and others pattern languages such as a proposed "[[Portland_Civic_Patterns_Repository|Portland Civic Patterns Repository]]" ''[citation needed] ''to describe approaches for civic governance and engagement.&nbsp;
+This&nbsp;''affordability pattern language&nbsp;''could be integrated with or extended to other pattern languages that describe other issues in housing or cities. For exampple,&nbsp;Wiki inventor Ward Cunningham, and fellow Portlander, urbanist, & architectural theorist Michael Mehaffy have been working with others on a new pattern language and online pattern repository,&nbsp;''A Pattern Language for Growing Regions&nbsp;''(''APLGR;&nbsp;''[http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html draft version online], printed book forthcoming 2019). The&nbsp;affordability pattern language here could potentially be integrated&nbsp;with&nbsp;''APLGR,&nbsp;''and others pattern languages such as a proposed "[[Portland_Civic_Patterns_Repository|Portland Civic Patterns Repository]]" ''[citation needed] ''to describe approaches for civic governance and engagement.&nbsp;
-Mehaffy talks about wikis and pattern languages as tools for "consensus development." ''[citation needed]''. In that vein, I've been thinking with this affordability language&nbsp;about how to show varied patterns -- from public housing to 'abundant' market housing -- as all being possible sources of or factors in affordability. In most cases, they may be&nbsp;integrable, instead of conflicting, ideas/approaches.
+Mehaffy talks about wikis and pattern languages as tools for "consensus development." ''[citation needed]''. In that vein, one of the purposes of this affordability pattern language&nbsp;is to suggest that quite varied patterns -- from public housing to 'abundant' market housing -- may&nbsp;all be&nbsp;sources of or factors in affordability, and considered practically rather than ideologically, they might often be combined in various ways, in a project or an environment.&nbsp;<br/> <br/> &nbsp;
-&nbsp;
+== Housing Affordability Patterns ==
-== Land-use reform ==
+=== Land-use reform ===
 (including building regulations reform)
@@ Line 22: / Line 26: @@
 s-present
-== <br/> Mobility improvement ==
+=== <br/> Mobility improvement ===
+Historically, many key improvements in affordability have arisen due to new transportation methods opening up new areas for residential development. For example: horse-drawn and then electric streetcars, subways / urban and commuter rail transit, and mass automobile ownership and freeways.&nbsp;Mobility improvement may be increased not only by the advent of major new transport technologies, but by more incremental improvements such as Bus Rapid Transit, or transit-oriented right-of-way design, or policies to subsidize transit.&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
-== Financial reform & innovation&nbsp; ==
+=== Financial reform & innovation&nbsp; ===
 Tax preferences/incentives for affordable & non-profit housing.
@@ Line 35: / Line 41: @@
 Cooperative financing/development. &nbsp;(cf German regulations facilitating).&nbsp;
+Private for-profit or non-profit financing methods, e.g. currently there is a wave of ventures offering forms of shared equity or financial partnership to assist&nbsp;homebuyers.&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
-== Non-profit & Public housing; use of public land ==
+=== Non-profit & Public housing; use of public land ===
-[Bond and General funding - local/state. i.e., just tax ourselves more. (the "public option")].
+[can be supported by bond and General funding - local/state. i.e., just tax ourselves more. (the "public option")].
 &nbsp;
-== Vouchers & direct subsidy: local, state, and/or Federal&nbsp; ==
+=== Vouchers & direct subsidy: local, state, and/or Federal&nbsp; ===
 a 'choice' strategy. &nbsp;
-[Bond and General funding - local/state. i.e., just tax ourselves more. (the "public option")]<br/> &nbsp;
+[can be supported by bond and General funding - local/state. i.e., just tax ourselves more. (the "public option")]
+See [[Income-based_housing_benefit|Income-based housing benefit]], and subsection "[https://www.yimby.wiki/wiki/Income-based_housing_benefit#proposed_Oregon_rental_assistance.C2.A0program_.282019.29 proposed Oregon rental assistance program (2019)]."&nbsp;
-== Mixed-income housing ==
+&nbsp;
-public or private developed, e.g. Vanport, Headwaters, Aloha Park<br/> &nbsp;
+=== Mixed-income housing ===
+public or private developed, e.g. Portland's Vanport, Headwaters Apartments/Village, Aloha Park Apartments (and other 1960s/70s Section 238 developments).<br/> &nbsp;
-== Rent regulation&nbsp; ==
+=== Rent regulation&nbsp; ===
-Oregon passes nation's 1st statewide rent control in 2019. &nbsp; &nbsp;
+Oregon passes nation's 1st statewide rent regulation&nbsp;in 2019. &nbsp; &nbsp;
-== <br/> Inclusionary housing&nbsp; ==
+=== <br/> Inclusionary housing&nbsp; ===
 mandated, incented, or purchased. Example of Pearl District. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
@@ Line 64: / Line 76: @@
 &nbsp;
-== Lot division & 'condoization'&nbsp; ==
+=== Lot division & 'condoization'&nbsp; ===
 Portland lot-division / narrow lots program.&nbsp;
@@ Line 72: / Line 84: @@
 &nbsp;
-== Sharing / Congregate housing&nbsp; ==
+=== Sharing / Congregate housing&nbsp; ===
 SRO, co-housing, co-living.
@@ Line 78: / Line 90: @@
 &nbsp;
-== Cooperative housing ==
+=== Cooperative housing ===
-Emerald Village.
+e.g. Emerald Village, Eugene.&nbsp;
+SquareOne Villages CLT-LEC model (Community Land Trust, Limited Equity Cooperative).&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
-== Accessory Dwellings ==
+=== Accessory Dwellings ===
 Self-, startup-, or public-financed. "Backdoor revolution."
@@ Line 90: / Line 104: @@
 &nbsp;
-== Community Land Trusts, deed restrictions, limited/shared equity&nbsp; ==
+=== Community Land Trusts, deed restrictions, limited/shared equity&nbsp; ===
 Cully Land Trust, Emerald Village&nbsp;
@@ Line 96: / Line 110: @@
 &nbsp;
-== Privately-developed affordable housing ==
+=== Privately-developed affordable housing ===
-built w/out subsidy. Guerrilla Development, Justus / Home First.
+built w/out subsidy. Guerrilla Development, Rob Justus / Home First.
 &nbsp;
-== Interim, mobile, or redeployable housing ==
+=== Interim, mobile, or redeployable housing ===
 POD, PAD Initiatives, Opportunity Village, OR Tiny House Code.
@@ Line 108: / Line 122: @@
 &nbsp;
-== Alternative design & technologies ==
+=== Alternative design & technologies ===
 modular, manufactured, pre-fab, etc.&nbsp;
@@ Line 114: / Line 128: @@
 &nbsp;
-== Informal, self-build, & incremental housing<br/> &nbsp; ==
+=== Informal, self-build, & incremental housing ===
+&nbsp;
-Abundant, or "Naturally occurring affordable" housing
+=== Abundant, or "Naturally occurring affordable" housing ===
 Housing for all.
+&nbsp;
+== Strategic Economics "Housing Tools & Strategies" Report 2019 ==
+Strategic Economics. "Eugene Housing Tools & Strategies Evaluation." [Prepared for City of Eugene, OR]. &nbsp;January 2019. &nbsp;[https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44616/Strategic-Economics-Final-Report-2019/.  https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44616/Strategic-Economics-Final-Report-2019/.&nbsp;]
+--Zoning Strategies for Market Rate Housing Production&nbsp;<br/> Streamlined Permitting Process<br/> Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance<br/> Graduated Density Zoning<br/> Tweak traditional zoning code to encourage Missing Middle development&nbsp;<br/> Form-based codes<br/> Mixed Use Zoning<br/> Reduced or Flexible Minimum Parking Requirements
+--Tax/Fee Exemptions and Other Incentives<br/> Reduce impact fees/ systems development charges<br/> Delay impact fees/systems development charges<br/> Property tax exemptions
+--Affordable Housing Production Strategies<br/> Density Bonus Ordinances<br/> Affordable Housing Overlay Zone<br/> Inclusionary Zoning<br/> Workforce Housing Initiatives
+--Local Affordable Housing Funding Strategies<br/> Reduced Fees or Waivers<br/> General Fund Allocation<br/> In-Lieu Fees - Inclusionary Zoning<br/> Residential Impact Fee for Affordable Housing<br/> Commercial Development Impact Fee / Commercial Linkage Fee<br/> Residential Construction Excise Tax<br/> Commercial/ Industrial Construction Excise Tax<br/> Affordable Housing Bond
+--Preservation of Existing Affordable Housing Units<br/> Condominium Conversion Controls and Tenant Protections<br/> Mobilehome Park Conversion Controls and Tenant Protections<br/> Single-Room Occupancy Conversion Controls / Preservation<br/> Acquisition/ Preservation of DeedRestricted Units<br/> Acquisition/ Preservation of "Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing"&nbsp;<br/> Community Land Trust (CLT)<br/> Short-term Rental Restrictions
+--Tenant Protections and Support<br/> Rent Stabilization<br/> Mobile Home Park Rent Control&nbsp;<br/> Just Cause Eviction and Harassment Protections<br/> Proactive Code Enforcement<br/> Limit Discrimination Based on Source of Income
+--Homeowner Support<br/> Homeowner Assistance Programs<br/> Housing Rehabilitation Funds
+--Other&nbsp;<br/> Home sharing programs<br/> Vacant Unit Tax&nbsp;
 &nbsp;
@@ Line 126: / Line 164: @@
 == References&nbsp; ==
-*Alexander, Christopher, and Murray Silverstein, Shlomo Angel, Sara Ishikawa, Denny Abrams (1977).&nbsp;''A Pattern Language.&nbsp;''
+*Alexander, Christopher, and Murray Silverstein, Shlomo Angel, Sara Ishikawa, Denny Abrams (1977).&nbsp;''A Pattern Language.&nbsp;''<br/> &nbsp;
+*Mehaffy, Michael W. (2019).&nbsp;''A Pattern Language for Growing Regions'' [''And Introducing An Online Repository of New Patterns'']. Sustasis Press, 2019. &nbsp;[draft copy]. [http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html. http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html.&nbsp;]<br/> &nbsp;
-*&nbsp;
+*Strategic Economics. "Eugene Housing Tools & Strategies Evaluation." [Prepared for City of Eugene, OR]. &nbsp;January 2019. &nbsp;[https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44616/Strategic-Economics-Final-Report-2019/.  https://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/View/44616/Strategic-Economics-Final-Report-2019/.&nbsp;]<br/> &nbsp;
+*Wikipedia. "Pattern language." accessed 17 November, 2019.&nbsp;[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_language https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_language].&nbsp;
-Mehaffy, Michael W. (2019).&nbsp;''A Pattern Language for Growing Regions'' [''And Introducing An Online Repository of New Patterns'']. Sustasis Press, 2019. &nbsp;[draft copy]. [http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html. http://www.sustasis.net/APLFGR.html.&nbsp;]
 &nbsp;